Results 18,461-18,480 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am explaining the situation. The report is there if the Deputy wants to read it. In regard to the matters before us today, the people who will be involved from Ireland's point of view tomorrow at an official level will be the Central Bank, the Department of Finance and the Financial Regulator.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I said, those are the people involved. The NTMA will also attend, if required. Officials are coming over tomorrow and have been very clear. There has been constructive engagement with them at all times throughout all the processes on the issues that affected Ireland and the euro area since this crisis began. That will continue and we will provide all the information needed because it...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: As I said on Monday, there was an ECOFIN meeting last night and there will be discussions following that today which will start tomorrow. That will go on until such time as they will be able to bring forward proposals over the coming days. I am not going to put a timeframe on that but they are urgent and focused and will be intensive. Again, I cannot give an outcome as to the timeframe but...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: All of them referred to the fact that discussions were taking place at official level on the euro area issues generally and in preparation for the meetings which are now taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. That is the normal function of officials in the engagement which takes place between us and EU institutions and other member states. The issue for us today arises out of the meeting at...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: -----we would have had the implosion of this country, in economic terms, in September 2008. Those are the facts. The fact is that there is support for the guarantee system because it has been replicated in other countries. There is support for capitalisation which is necessary when one has the sort of losses which were racked up.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is also important for the segregation of the NAMA exercise. The leader of Fine Gael suggested the banking policy he has is credible. He could not even get the support of the former leader of his party for his banking policy.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: We have had enough of your lip.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I reiterate that the statements made by Ministers last week and since then have been firmly based on the fact that we were not involved in negotiations and we are still not involved in negotiations.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: If the Deputy thinks it is in the essential national interest of this country for me, as head of Government, to indicate what our negotiating position is before negotiations have even begun or before we have agreed to enter into them - pending these discussions that have to take place on a whole range of technical issues including regulation, structure and others - then he is not very clever.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy has just agreed that it is not possible for me to give a predication of the outcome of these discussions which have not begun. If I may, I wish to answer the Deputy's other question on the Government's objective. As outlined in that statement, the objective is simply to ensure, as quickly as possible, that we have a banking system that can access funds on the open market and that...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: We have segregated the assets in a transparent manner. When asked about it in an interview this morning, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said that discussions have taken place in the last couple of days regarding some of these technical issues. There is a growing acceptance of the validity of the analysis that was done by the Financial Regulator in respect of those...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Instead of people deciding that these issues are not being properly addressed, they should realise that they are being properly addressed. I have outlined the importance of the discussions taking place in an urgent and focused manner. We will conduct that analysis in an open and constructive way. Our people are available to discuss that with those who will come over from the ECB, the IMF...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: To assist in that, this Parliament can ensure that the four-year plan and the budget - as supported by Europe and other jurisdictions at the moment - are passed so that the fiscal strategy is put through. It is essential for the future of this country that it is.

International Financial Services Centre (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. As previously stated in the House, my Department has supported the international financial services industry in Ireland since the establishment of the IFSC in 1987, by providing a forum for the exchange of views and the co-ordination of effort through the mechanism of the IFSC clearing house group, supported by working groups in...

International Financial Services Centre (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: The memorandum has not yet been circulated. It is under further consideration at the moment. Various decisions must be taken by the Government on foot of the memorandum, which refer to various initiatives that await Government decisions. Then we will be to explain precisely how we want to proceed.

International Financial Services Centre (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: There is no lethargy.

International Financial Services Centre (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: There is none, quite the contrary.

International Financial Services Centre (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: Many jobs have been created in the green sector since the Government came into office. In some cases this has been stop start. There have been thousands of jobs in a range of areas. I remind Deputy Gilmore that this concept is about developing an IFSC cluster and brand, incorporating green investment vehicles, the administration of funds managed under green principles and carbon trading...

International Financial Services Centre (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: It is being dealt with directly by the Department of Finance. A question to the Minister for Finance will give a precise update on it.

International Financial Services Centre (17 Nov 2010)

Brian Cowen: I am happy to provide information on that. The concept of the centre arose during the consideration given to the level of world-class skills, education and training required to sustain and further develop the IFSC in this country. The expert group on future skill needs was requested by the clearing house group to examine the needs of the entire international financial services industry and...